“Och, I have nary a problem with her decision. To each their own, but she’s her da’s wean. Speaking of which, Erika’s da, Ewan, isn’t aware of her sexual preferences. He never will, at least, not from the lips of a MacKenzie.”
The tone of Nan’s voice implies that this is the final time we will discuss Erika’s love interests. She levels me with a serious, empathetic stare.
“Sweetheart, now, I advise you and Leith go have a private discussion about a few matters. Mind yer sweet Mia before making any rash decisions.”
Chapter 48
Leith
Mam’s suggestion must’ve gone over Chevelle’s head. My wife saunters toward my old bedroom. She’s already turned the lock on the knob. The door collides with my foot when I place it in the open space.
“Feck!” I grit as she attempts to slam the door with my foot in it. I move my foot and almost have my hand through the door when it slams again.
“Let me in, Chevelle! Ye hear me, hen?” After my feckin’ da made me feel like shite, I spent hours tracking down Yates’ location. I’d wanted to focus on the boom my parents dropped about the Romans, but Da’s words were all I ever needed. The fuel. The drive. I’ll not be a humiliation to him any longer. I found Yates and gave his current position to my clan.
I’ve started to fix one wrong. Now, for the other one, which is the most important to me. I pummel the sides of my fists into the wood. “I will break the bloody door down!”
“Just stop,” she groans. “You won’t even give me a moment to deal!”
“Nae, I won’t!” Call me selfish, but Chevelle’s not grappling with shite. She’ll get lost in her feckin’ head, and I’ll not have it. My shoulder slams into the door. Twice is all it needs for the doorframe to fracture. I reach my arm inside, unlock the knob, and enter. When I try to close the door, it slams to the ground. Grumbling, I pick it up and place it against the frame.
Seated at the edge of the bed, Chevelle silently eyes me. I give a huff of defeat.
“You’re a barbarian.” She emphasizes the last word, disgust heavy in her tone.
“Would’ve been better for you and me to come to those terms sooner.” Heading over, I dip my head to look her square in the eye. “There’s a man who―”
“Save it.”
“Who blackmailed—”
“Oh, was he blackmailing you about your affair with Erika? Well, you didn’t have to worry about that. My eyes didn’t lie.” Her warm brown gaze is dazzling in a torrent of tears. “I’m exhausted. May I have some time alone? Please, Leith.”
“Not until we see eye to eye. Ye saw nothing. It was out of context, and you turned it into something.” Wriggling my jaw, I go in for the kill. Aye, her statement about wanting to screw someone else might as well have done me in. “Who’s the fecker?”
She stutters. “I was just—”
“Who!” I bark.
“Michie,” Chevelle mutters, caressing her throat. “I was angry. That’s all.”
I close my eyes slowly, letting the gravity of her words pull me under. The riptide snatches my heart out. I had suspicions that Michie wanted my hen. But I knew Chevelle loved me. She was mine. I’d never have guessed that she had feelings for him too. All this time, I thought I was a lucky nugget. Nae, that deid feck, Jiang, he was lucky. At least he was molded in cement. I’m a million miles under the ocean. My heart’s feckin’ shark food.
Nodding, I rationalize, “Okay, so I’ll kill him.”
“No.”
“Nae?” My eyebrow lifts. A million ways that Michie can die cease from running through my mind. “Whaddaya mean, nae?”
“He’s got a cranky demeanor, but he’s honest. He doesn’t lie to me. Besides, nothing happened. No harming him.”
I’m on her in seconds, my hand about her throat. The soft thump quickens beneath my thumb. “That arsehole touch my pussy?”
“I can’t bre—”
“Did that motherfeckin’ bawbag touch what belongs to me?” I stop constricting her airway for a faint second.
“No!” Chevelle gasps.
My hands clutch her cheeks, puckering that precious mouth of hers. “Did he give these lips a smooch?”
I press my mouth to hers. They’re coloring a deeper shade merlot by the second. Bonny, big tears are in her eyes. My Grand’ was right. I’ve never seen a sight so beautiful, and I murmur that bit of truth. “God must’ve taken a long holiday when He created